Monday, May 12, 2014

6 QUESTIONS: Jeremy Aluma of Four Clowns

The LA based clown troupe, FOUR CLOWNS brings its eponymous show to The Club @ La MaMa from May 23 - June 1, 2014. Founder and Artistic Director, Jeremy Aluma, took time out from preparing for their East Coast debut to answer 6 Questions:1. How did Four Clowns come together as a company?
In 2004, 10 years ago, I started my clown training - at The Clown School in LA, The Actors Center in NYC, and the Bali Master Conservatory in Indonesia. In one of my sessions at The Clown School with David Bridel and Orlando Pabotoy, I got an idea to create a clown show about four clowns who are stuck in their archetypes from childhood to death, and only through sharing their experiences with one another can they experience any relief. I sat with the idea for about 2 years and when the Hollywood Fringe Festival announced it's inauguration in 2010, I though it was the right place to premiere the idea. The show, Four Clowns, did tremendously well, so we decided to take it on the road. Over the course of the following year, we toured Four Clowns all over the country - to Las Vegas, Chicago, San Francisco, Minneapolis, Indianapolis and Phoenix. We also continued to produce other material. A company slowly coalesced, and clown actors, director and teachers began getting in touch with me to collaborate. In November 2012, we formally created the company, Four Clowns.
2. What should audiences expect from the show?It's an exploration of the trials and tribulations of life told through the eyes of a clown. A clown is in touch with their emotions much more readily than you or I. They also have a direct connection to the audience. Essentially it's a very dark comedy about life.
3. Does the show change much from night to night?About 20% of the show is improvised so it changes regularly. There's also 2 different endings that depend on how the audience interacts with one of the characters. Also, after every show we discuss what jokes, bits and routines worked and which didn't so we are constantly tweaking. We have done the show about 70 times. 4. Who has inspired you?Slava's Snow Show. Orlando Pabotoy's That Beautiful Laugh. Charlie Chaplin. The Clown School in Los Angeles.
5. Do you think of your work as political? Our work's primary goal is to make people laugh.
6. What does working at La MaMa mean to you? We've been trying to work with La MaMa for the past 2 years so this is very exciting for us. La MaMa is a staple in the NYC theater scene and we are honored to be a part of its illustrious tradition.

La MaMa presents FOUR CLOWNS Conceived and directed by Jeremy Aluma May 23 – June 1, 2014 Friday and Saturday @ 10pm; Sunday @ 5:30pm The Club @ La MaMa74A East 4th Street(between Bowery and Second Avenue)New York, NY 10003Tickets: $18 Adults; $13 Students/Seniors; ten tickets priced at $10 are available, in advance, for every performance via web, phone or box office as part of La MaMa's 10@$10 ticketing initiative. 10@$10 tickets not available day of show. For Tickets and Info: CLICK HERE